Scholarly, Trade and Popular Sources

Periodical is a term used to describe any publication that is published multiple times (periodically). Periodicals include materials such as popular magazines, scholarly journals, and newspapers.

It is important to understand the difference between a popular and a scholarly periodical. When you are doing research, most of your sources should be scholarly.

Often popular periodicals are called magazines and scholarly periodicals are called journals. Many times it will be acceptable to use some popular material, but research papers should not be based solely on popular literature.

Criteria

Popular Magazine

Trade Journal

Scholarly Journal

Example

Content

Secondary discussion of someone else's research; may include personal narrative or opinion; generalinformation, purpose is to entertain or inform.

Current news,trendsand products in a specific industry; practical informationfor professionalsworking in the field or industry.

In-depth, primary account of original findings written by the researcher(s); veryspecific information, with the goal of scholarly communication.

Author

Author is frequently a journalist paid to write articles, may or may not have subject expertise.

Author is usually a professional in the field, sometimes a journalist with subject expertise.

Author's credentials are provided; usually a scholar or specialist with subject expertise.

Audience

General public; the interested non-specialist.

Professionals in the field; the interested non-specialist.

Scholars, researchers, and students.

Language

Vocabulary in general usage; easily understandable to most readers.

Specialized terminology or jargon of the field, but not as technical as a scholarly journal.

Specialized terminology or jargon of the field; requires expertise in subject area.

Graphics

Graphs, charts and tables; lots of glossy advertisements and photographs.

Photographs; some graphics and charts;advertisements targeted to professionals in the field.

Graphs, charts, and tables; very few advertisements and photographs.

Layout & Organization

Informal; may include non-standard formatting. May not present supporting evidence or a conclusion.

Informal; articles organized like a journal or a newsletter. Evidence drawn from personal experience or common knowledge.